Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Chapter 57: Cultivation Knows No Years

Primordial Saint Sect, Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.

When Lu Yang returned to Mending Heaven Peak, his entire body was battered, with hardly a patch of uninjured flesh. His injuries were even more severe than those sustained during the great battle at Skeleton Mountain.

While traveling back to the sect on a flying boat, he was ambushed by righteous sects.

A Qi Refining Perfection cultivator used a divine ability to slice his left hand down to the bone. His face was riddled with sores, a result of being stung by a scorpion beastʼs tail during a forest encounter.

These were just the visible injuries.

Beneath the surface, his meridians, acupoints, and Dantianʼs Purple Mansion were all damaged to varying degrees, inflicted by opponents weaker than himself.

”This is what it means to have oneʼs luck run out, leaving a hero powerless.”

Lu Yang wore a helpless expression. His fortune for the next thirty years had been prematurely exhausted by True Person Yinshanʼs fishing technique. Now, misfortune clung to him, making everything go awry.

Initially, Lu Yang attempted to fight back.

However, whenever he engaged in combat, various mishaps occurred—old injuries flared up, he overexerted himself, or his divine abilities backfired.

In the end, he could only keep fleeing.

Still, being at Qi Refining Perfection, his life force was resilient enough to endure until he returned to the sect.

As for the sectʼs campaign to annihilate the Divine Martial Sect following the Skeleton Mountain incident, Lu Yang dared not participate.

Given his current state—where even going to the toilet could lead to disaster—he feared that a Foundation Establishment True Person could kill him from eight hundred miles away with a single slap.

Upon returning to the sect, Lu Yang immediately secluded himself in his cave dwelling.

He deployed the Heaven-Slashing Blood River Sword Formation outside, plastered talismans all over the interior and exterior, completely sealing off the cave to isolate himself from any external disturbances.

”For the next thirty years, Iʼm not stepping outside!”

Moreover, with misfortune entangling him, even cultivating was a luxury.

Not to mention improving his cultivation; the only likely outcome was going berserk.

Fortunately, he had already reached Qi Refining Perfection, so further cultivation wasnʼt necessary.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and retrieved a jade slip from his storage bag.

Unlike ordinary jade slips, this one was a brilliant golden color.

This item was called the ”Bright Dao Jade Slip.”

As a substitute for a Foundation Establishment rare treasure, True Person Yinshan had bestowed it upon him. As he wished, it was a secret treasure that could aid in comprehending Daoist arts.

Whenever one encountered difficulties in cultivation, they could inject their questions into the jade slip, which would provide answers.

Within the Qi Refining realm, its accuracy was one hundred percent, effectively equivalent to having a Foundation Establishment True Person deducing divine abilities for you—a timely solution for Lu Yang.

”Given my current state, thereʼs no way to comprehend divine abilities.”

”After all, with my bad luck, Iʼm bound to go down the wrong path, or worse, a deviant one. But this Bright Dao Jade Slip is different!”

”True Person Yinshan said that this rare item has vaguely touched upon the threshold of Foundation Establishment, so its answers wonʼt be affected by my misfortune.”

Despite this, Lu Yang didnʼt rush to use it to comprehend the Taiwei Pardon Talisman.

Although his great divine ability, the ”Taiyin Body-Shedding Corpse Liberation True Method,” only lacked this final component, he valued another gain from Skeleton Mountain even more: the ”Taiyi Golden Radiance Pill Book”!

Of course, he hadnʼt obtained the complete ”Taiyi Golden Radiance Pill Book.”

After all, he wasnʼt a true disciple of Mending Heaven Peak, and the grade of dual cultivation methods was limited. So, even after nearly draining Yun Miaozhen, he hadnʼt managed to acquire the entire book.

He had only obtained one-third of it, a divine ability named ”Taiyi Primordial Essence Jade Radiance.”

As the name implied, once cultivated, this divine ability could condense a jade-colored ”essence light.” When applied to the body, it rendered the flesh indestructible like diamond.

Additionally, it had the effect of healing physical injuries.

This aspect was particularly crucial for Lu Yang now, as his body was severely damaged due to misfortune.

”Once my injuries and luck recover, I might need to find a body refinement technique to cultivate.”

With this in mind, Lu Yang immediately took out his disciple token and contacted Second Senior Brother Luo Wuya of the Three Rivers Society to inquire about suitable techniques.

As a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator, he now had the qualification to speak with Luo Wuya as an equal.

Soon, Luo Wuya replied:

”There is indeed a technique well-suited for you, Junior Brother, but itʼs not yet time to cultivate it. Perhaps wait a few years, and Iʼll inform you when the time comes.”

Lu Yang readily agreed and then entered seclusion.

A few years later, a spirited young man arrived outside Lu Yangʼs cave dwelling.

The young man, named Wang Song, had recently joined the sect a few days prior. Through the recommendation of his grandfather, Wang Borong, he had joined the Three Rivers Society and accepted a commission from Luo Wuya.

”Senior Brother Luo had an agreement with Senior Brother Lü regarding a body refinement technique. However, after years of bloody battles with the Divine Martial Sect, Senior Brother Luo has achieved great merits and received a Foundation Establishment rare treasure from a True Person. Heʼs preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment and cannot come personally, so he sent me to deliver the technique.”

”But now, Senior Brother Lü is also in seclusion. What should I do?”

Wang Song furrowed his brow in frustration. In the end, he decided to find a cave dwelling near Lu Yangʼs and settle in, reasoning that he was young and had time to wait for Lu Yang to emerge.

With this thought, Wang Song glanced at Lu Yangʼs cave dwelling, eyes filled with anticipation.

As far as he knew, this Senior Brother Lü had once been an ordinary disciple but had risen to Qi Refining Perfection and was now on the verge of Foundation Establishment.

”If Senior Brother Lü can do it, so can I!”

”Iʼm currently at Qi Refining level one. As long as I study diligently and work tirelessly, I can also become someone like Senior Brother Luo and Senior Brother Lü in the future!”

”Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never underestimate a young manʼs potential!”

In the cultivation world, years pass unnoticed.

In the blink of an eye, thirty years had gone by.

Mending Heaven Peakʼs Library Pavilion.

Now over fifty years old, Wang Song had been stuck at the bottleneck of Qi Refining level three for over a decade, with little progress in cultivation. His appearance had aged noticeably.

The elder who had introduced him to the sect, Wang Borong, had long since passed away, leaving him with a secure position as a Library Pavilion steward and a cave dwelling with a thirty-year mortgage.

Fortunately, with consistent diligence over thirty years, he was close to paying off the loan.

The sharp edges of youth had long been worn away.

Now, Wang Songʼs face bore only the numbness inflicted by the sectʼs hardships. His initial resolve of ”never underestimate a young manʼs potential” had shifted to ”respect the deceased.”

Just getting by.

Looking on the bright side, at least he was close to paying off his cave dwelling loan. This way, when his son joined the sect, he would have a foundation to build upon.

At that moment, a loud noise suddenly echoed from afar.

”Hmm?”

Wang Song looked up in confusion and saw that the cave dwelling he had both loved and hated—once cursed at but never opened—had suddenly activated.

”Heʼs out of seclusion... Senior Brother Lü is out of seclusion!?”

The next second, the cave dwelling opened, and Wang Song saw a handsome young man, as spirited as his younger self thirty years ago, strolling out.

Thirty years had passed, yet time had left no mark on him.

Then, as if sensing Wang Songʼs gaze, the handsome young man suddenly turned his head. His calm eyes seemed to penetrate oneʼs soul.

”You are...?”

Lu Yang looked curious.

With a thought, a halo appeared behind his head, resembling a full moon, filled with intricate talismanic script.

The script resembled dragons and phoenixes, evoking a contradictory feeling.

At first glance, it appeared as tiny as a mustard seed, but upon closer inspection, one could become immersed, as if witnessing the vast universe.

Over time, the script transformed, displaying scenes of birds, flowers, fish, insects, and all manner of life.

Taiwei Pardon Talisman!

The final divine ability of the ”Taiyin Body-Shedding Corpse Liberation True Method,” unlike the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light or the Profound Yin Form-Capturing Grand Art, was not used for combat.

It was used for divination.

Thus, when Lu Yangʼs gaze fell upon Wang Song, as the talisman operated, the eventsʼ causes and effects were no longer a mystery to him.

Wang Songʼs identity, his ancestors, cultivation techniques, level, divine abilities, and even the reason for waiting outside the cave dwelling—all were revealed to Lu Yang.

This sensation of having all things within oneʼs grasp made Lu Yang reflect:

”Perhaps this is what it feels like to be a Foundation Establishment True Person?”

Of course, this was also due to the significant cultivation gap between him and Wang Song.

Divining a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator wouldnʼt be so effortless.

This indicated that he was still far from being a Foundation Establishment True Person.

On the other side, Wang Song had finally seen the Senior Brother Lü he had longed for over the decades. As he stumbled forward to pay his respects, he heard a sigh:

”No need for formalities. Just give me the item.”

Wang Song dared not delay. He quickly produced a jade slip he had kept for thirty years. Lu Yang scanned it with his spiritual sense, the restrictions lifted, and the contents emerged.

Luo Wuya hadnʼt deceived him; it was indeed a body refinement technique well-suited for him.

Its name was: ”Saintʼs Theft”